The Indian Railways has issued a directive to X (formerly Twitter) to remove 285 social media links containing videos of the February 15 stampede at New Delhi railway station. Citing ethical concerns, the Railway Ministry emphasized that the content depicts “sensitive or disturbing media” that violates X’s content policy. This move follows the ministry’s recent empowerment to issue takedown notices directly, bypassing the IT Ministry’s blocking committee. The decision aims to prevent misinformation and regulate distressing content related to railway incidents.

The stampede, which occurred due to an overwhelming rush of passengers boarding a train for Mahakumbh, left several people injured. The Delhi High Court has since questioned Indian Railways over its policy of overselling tickets, stating that implementing existing laws on passenger limits could have prevented such chaos. The court has asked the ministry to outline steps for enforcing Section 147 of the Railways Act, which penalizes unauthorized entry into train coaches.

Despite the takedown request, X’s policies recognize the importance of maintaining public records of significant events. While the platform acknowledges users’ right to “dignity and privacy in death,” it also upholds the need for transparency in historical or newsworthy incidents. The controversy over the takedown notice highlights the ongoing tension between government regulations and press freedom, especially in cases involving sensitive public events.